139th Airlift Wing receives first H3 Variant C-130

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The 139th Airlift Wing has gained a new set of wings after receiving its first H3 variant of the C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The aircraft arrived on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and was transferred from the Montana Air National Guard's 120th Airlift Wing. It features NP2000 eight-bladed propellers and avionics upgrades, including an electronic propeller control system.

The transfer is part of a broader divestment program aimed at phasing out older aircraft.

The aircraft will undergo an acceptance inspection, followed by an isochronal inspection before being cleared for flight operations through the 139th, according to Master Sgt. Danny Mears, a production superintendent for the 139th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Mears also said the H3s are anywhere from three to six years newer than the wing's current fleet of H2.5s.

The aircraft was flown from Montana to St. Joseph by aircrew from the 139th. Maintenance personnel accompanied the mission.

"The plane flew great," said Lt. Col. Chase Bodenhausen, commander of the 139th Operations Support Specialist Squadron. "The eight-bladed props are quiet, and power adjustments are immediate with the electronic valve-housing as opposed to the mechanical systems we have on the older H2s."

Crews said, beyond the propeller upgrades, one visible difference inside the cockpit is the location of the radar.

According to Bodenhausen, the radar sits on the dash of the H2 models, restricting the visibility for pilots across the cockpit. The H3 model has the radar on display on the lower right side of the dash for both the pilot and copilot, opening up visibility.

The 139th is slated to receive another H3 variant C-130 from the Illinois Air National Guard in the near future, as the Illinois unit has transitioned to the newer J-model aircraft.